Phil Rodgers Cobra wedges

Phil Rodgers Cobra wedge.

Phil Rodgers Cobra wedges (50, 53,56,60-degree lofts)

Price: £79

In his twenties Phil Rodgers used to get mistaken for Jack Nicklaus – the same rotund figure, the same all-American crewcut. Just for a laugh, they used to eat together on Tour and many thought them identical twins.

The only difference was that Nicklaus had 18 major victories, Rodgers had none.

Years later, however, Rodgers is making his own mark creating wedges for Cobra, that many believe reflect the exquisite short game he possessed as a player in his 1960s heyday.

Now aged 64, the former boy wonder who had five PGA tour wins lives in San Diego with his wife, Karen and his biggest impact on golf has come through coaching several Tour pros – including Paul Azinger – and lately in designing his exclusive King Cobra Phil Rodgers wedges, designed for avid golfers of all abilities.

Phil Rodgers - Nicklaus lookalike.

First impression is of a classic look with its flat back head design and angular ‘skid sole’ meant to keep the clubhead level through impact with minimal divots. The special flange, Rodgers reckons, stops the ball from climbing up the face for greater control.

The ball tends to be nipped off the surface rather than digging in. I found it a neat little club around the green but with a full shot from about 80 yards I couldn’t get the hang of the consistent trajectory and spin it claimed with my 56-degree version.

Maybe I'm just crap from that distance out!

Another thing I couldn’t get my head round was the fact that the soft-milled carbon steel face and head was designed to rust, encouraging the 'Trusty Rusty' nickname, Rodgers has given it.

I’ve seen in pro’s bags and appreciate they accept a certain discolouration, but this club, as soon as it got wet, dried into ugly brown smears, which frankly I found distasteful among my other pristine clubs irons.

At £79 I’ve heard other golfers describe this as a bargain, but personally I prefer a chrome look to my clubs and will persevere with their performance, rather than this ugly duckling.